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Indie artists could be banned from YouTube

YOUTUBE: Some indie artists could be "banned" from the video-sharing site in the coming days. Photo: Associated Press

Acts including Adele and the Arctic Monkeys are facing a video ban on YouTube amid reports their record labels are refusing to comply with the website’s new terms.

Bosses at the video-sharing website are set to introduce a new subscription-based music service which will allow paying visitors to avoid advertising.

Robert Kyncl, YouTube’s head of content and business operations, says “90 percent” of the music industry has agreed to the new rules, but some independent labels are holding out over claims bigger companies have been offered better deals.

Among those reportedly refusing to sign up are XL Recordings, which represents Adele and The xx, and Domino, which boasts the Arctic Monkeys on its roster.

Kyncl has confirmed labels which do not comply with the new terms face having their artists’ videos removed “in the coming days.”

He adds to the Financial Times, “While we wish that we had a 100 percent success rate, we understand that is not likely an achievable goal (sic) and therefore it is our responsibility to our users and the industry to launch the enhanced music experience.”